Andrew GlockThe main disadvantage of Cobra Mk3 - awful positions of the outermost hardpoints making them useless for fixed weapons.

ED_Recluse
I primarily use the Vulture for Bounty Hunting, and the Cobras for mining or surface missions and the armament is sufficient to take care of MOST pirates and Interdictors and it is fast enough to RUN when necessary. In once case I was interdicted by a Federal Dropship. I decided to Run, but he interdicted me again and between the two interdictions, he had worn down my shields and part of my hull. Figured it was better to fight especially noticing that his Combat ranking was fairly low and easily prevailed without taking any more damage. Not so with a Federal Assault Ship who I could NOT get in my sights... ended up running like hell and barely making it out alive.

James Hussar

ED_Recluse
I primarily use the Vulture for Bounty Hunting, and the Cobras for mining or surface missions and the armament is sufficient to take care of MOST pirates and Interdictors and it is fast enough to RUN when necessary. In once case I was interdicted by a Federal Dropship. I decided to Run, but he interdicted me again and between the two interdictions, he had worn down my shields and part of my hull. Figured it was better to fight especially noticing that his Combat ranking was fairly low and easily prevailed without taking any more damage. Not so with a Federal Assault Ship who I could NOT get in my sights... ended up running like hell and barely making it out alive.

The FAS is one NIMBLE piece of tech. I'm usually in a Python these days, and I prefer to avoid them if I can. If I have to engage, even in the Python, I have a strategy of ripping down their shields with a couple of PA hits, then beams, then once exposed, pounding on their power plant with a heavy cannon and beams. Those beasts are not just agile, they're resilient. It's easier to take out an Anaconda than a high-ranked FAS.

With a Vulture, you can dance around almost any large ship, but the FAS is a challenge. I just wish the Vulture had the next bigger power plant/capacitor for more sustained beam fire - the Python can deliver two large beams for so much longer than a Vulture, but it turns so poorly by comparison.

I can't wait to rank up enough to get into a FAS.

ED_Recluse

Yep.. Cobra Mk III has 4. 2 Med 2 Small.

On my various Cobras I run 2 Beam + 2 Multicannon or 2 Beam, 1 Mining, one Cannon. Probably should go to Pulse as the Beams really eat up capacitors. Of course they also eat up Shields and Hull of opposing ships

IronWolfe

ED_Recluse

Yep.. Cobra Mk III has 4. 2 Med 2 Small.

On my various Cobras I run 2 Beam + 2 Multicannon or 2 Beam, 1 Mining, one Cannon. Probably should go to Pulse as the Beams really eat up capacitors. Of course they also eat up Shields and Hull of opposing ships

I was thinking of getting a cobra and fitting it strictly for combat.

Ozmundo Vasqualez

If you can afford the step up, get a Vulture. It'll take down pretty much anything with the right spec. Use two large pulses for Haz res hunting and you'll be out all day, laughing as Anacondas explode in front of you.

ED_RecluseWe have run full wings of 4 Vultures which makes short work of RES zones. The biggest problem is getting in each other's way! We all tend to fly similar approach vectors so end up nicking each other's shields or colliding. Makes for a good laugh amidst the slaughter

GilderoyThrow an FDL in there just to be fancy

ED_Recluse Agreed which is why I only use GIMBALLED weapons. For the Cobra, even using Gimballed Multicannons on the outer points requires pitching down the nose to get the points to bear properly.

ED_RecluseTOTALLY AGREE!!!  The Cobra is a great little combat ship, but you have to be careful and pick your battles. The Vulture give you much more capability and room for error.  My Vulture is running one large gimballed Beam and a gimballed C3 Cannon. With an A rated Powerplant, the Beams are capable of taking down most shields with one capacitor charge and they recharge quickly enough to cut through hulls. For small ships like Eagles and Vipers and Adders,  one charge of the capacitor is usually enough to take down shields and destroy hulls.  When bounty hunting we refer to these ships as "tasty snacks" or "potato chips".  For larger ships, once the shields are down, getting up close and personal and pounding with Cannon until the Beams recharge will take down Hulls and Modules (targeted Power Plants e.g.) nicely.,

I have heard many people swear by the 2 large Pulse lasers as well, so that is a good option as well and, from what I understand more power efficient.

All that said, the real efficiency in Bounty hunting comes from going in Wings. As you share the bounties, each kill is a lower payday, but as long as they keep spawning, you can keep putting money in the bank.

Andrew Glock

ED_Recluse Agreed which is why I only use GIMBALLED weapons. For the Cobra, even using Gimballed Multicannons on the outer points requires pitching down the nose to get the points to bear properly.

Yea, but you know that this is not the best fit for PvP, won't you?


I would say that Cobra is not combat ship. Cobra is multi-purpose ship and pretty good multi-purpose ship for its price.
For strictly combat purpose - Vulture and Viper Mk3 will be better choice indeed.
I'm using Vulture with 2 large fixed pulse lasers (because of power consumption issues indeed) - it's really kick ass. However, the matter is that you can't use it for any purpose except combat. It's also slow (and ugly ) like old soviet car - usually other players can run away from you easy enough.

Andrew Glock

ED_Recluse Agreed which is why I only use GIMBALLED weapons. For the Cobra, even using Gimballed Multicannons on the outer points requires pitching down the nose to get the points to bear properly.

Yea, but you know that this is not the best fit for PvP, won't you?